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Textured wallpaper adds depth through raised fibers, woven surfaces, natural materials, or patterns that imitate texture. The eight ideas below show how to use it—from a quiet basket-weave effect to a dramatic reptile-inspired finish—and how to weigh the look against your wall condition, room use, and care needs. They are design approaches, not eight mutually exclusive wallpaper materials.
What kinds of texture can wallpaper add?
Texture can be something you feel, something you see, or both. A woven textile or natural grasscloth has a physical surface; a printed design can suggest brush strokes or another material without being raised. Some wallcoverings combine the two. Knowing which kind you’re choosing helps set expectations: a close-up tactile effect will read differently from a large graphic pattern, even if both add visual depth.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Materials and constructions vary. Grasscloth is made from natural fibers such as grass, sisal, or hemp laminated to a paper backing. Flocked wallpaper creates a velvet-like effect by adhering fibers to a surface. Expanded vinyl can form a raised texture that imitates brick, stone, or wood, while foil or Mylar finishes are highly reflective. Paper-backed textiles, meanwhile, use fabric as the visible surface with paper behind it. These are broad descriptions, not guarantees about a particular product’s durability or care; check the manufacturer’s specifications. Fairchild Books’ overview of wall coverings describes these material effects.
Texture also changes how color and pattern register. New York-based designer Josh Greene puts it this way: “Plain painted walls can be beautiful, but once you put a textured paper in a design scheme, it takes it to the next level.” That doesn’t mean every room needs a heavily tactile surface. A restrained weave or a printed illusion can add a layer without competing with furnishings and artwork.
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What are eight ways to use textured wallpaper?
Start with the effect you want—natural, dramatic, graphic, or layered—then choose a construction and pattern that can deliver it. The following approaches draw on designer examples in Architectural Digest’s feature on wallpaper textures; its examples are useful design references, not evidence that a particular product is currently available.
- Combine color, print, and texture. Treat these as three related choices rather than asking texture to do all the work. Geometric, botanical, and animal prints can each take on a different character through color and surface. A prominent pattern may be enough on its own; a more subtle design can let a woven or fuzzy finish carry more of the interest.
- Bring in a botanical scene. Designer Sarah Barnard used botanical cotton and linen wallpaper to create a woodland feeling that related to the room’s architecture and local flora. The useful principle is to connect the motif to its surroundings: consider the room’s shapes, view, and nearby natural references, rather than treating a botanical print as an isolated decoration.
- Make a small room dramatic. Beth Dotolo and Carolina V. Gentry paired a reptilian-texture wallcovering with dark wood in a powder room. This is an example of a high-impact surface in a particular scheme, not a rule that every bold texture suits every room. In a compact space, decide whether you want the wallcovering to be the focal point and whether adjacent finishes will support it.
- Mix prints across surfaces. Alex Alonso used paper-backed fabric on the walls and a different design on the ceiling to unify a guest room. The prints don’t have to match, but they need a relationship—such as a shared color or compatible scale—so the surfaces feel considered together. Paper-backed fabric makes textile wallcovering possible; it can reduce the risk of installation adhesive bleeding into the textile, but it is not a universal guarantee against installation problems.
- Use a graphic design with a tactile surprise. A burlap-based, paper-backed fabric example looks like paper from a distance, then reveals more surface detail up close. Alonso described that shift: “At first it looks like paper, but when you get closer you see there’s a tactile quality to it because it’s paper-backed fabric.” This kind of design can read as graphic first and material-rich second.
- Choose a quiet, close-up pattern. A wallcovering such as Schumacher’s Brimfield was described as resembling basket weave. A small-scale woven look can add warmth without demanding the same attention as a large motif. Think about viewing distance: a pattern meant to reward a closer look may have a different effect across a long room than it does in a reading nook or entry.
- Make the wall feel like a canvas. Pierre Frey’s Obsidienne design resembles brush strokes. Alonso said its textured surface gave the room an artistic quality and the impression of canvas. Brushstroke-like marks bring movement to a wall; consider whether their direction and scale work with the room’s architecture and the art you plan to hang.
- Layer texture with another artwork or pattern. Designer Jen Samson layered a painted mural over green Manila Hemp grasscloth. Here, the grasscloth acts as a textured base rather than the final visual layer. If you plan a mural or additional pattern, consider how it will sit against the underlying weave and whether the combination leaves enough visual breathing room.
Other surfaces described in the feature include plush Ultrasuede with a fuzzy finish, fine-corded linen, grosgrain-like woven fabric, and trompe-l’oeil designs that create the illusion of another surface. These examples show why “textured wallpaper” is a broad category: it can mean an actual textile, a natural fiber, a raised finish, or a visual effect printed on a flatter substrate.
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Match the wallcovering to the room’s use as well as its look. A tactile finish may be visually appealing but poorly suited to a wall that gets frequent contact or needs regular cleaning. Natural-fiber wallcoverings such as grasscloth are delicate and are generally better suited to lower-traffic areas than more durable vinyl, according to This Old House’s wallpaper guide. Care varies by product, so don’t assume that two wallpapers with a similar appearance can be cleaned the same way.
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- For a bedroom or guest room: Consider a soft textile, natural fiber, or quieter woven look if the wall is unlikely to take frequent knocks. Paper-backed fabric can also support a layered scheme, as in Alonso’s guest-room example.
- For a powder room: A dramatic texture can act as a focal point, as in the reptilian wallcovering and dark-wood example. Check the chosen product’s instructions for room suitability and care rather than assuming a bold finish is automatically appropriate for every exposure.
- For a busy hallway or other high-contact wall: Give durability and cleanability more weight. Natural fibers may be too delicate for a high-traffic location; compare the product’s stated care requirements and intended use before selecting it.
- For a feature wall or layered mural: Decide how the texture will relate to the rest of the room. A pronounced weave, graphic print, and mural can all compete if they each demand attention; a quieter base may make it easier to add another visual layer.
Room use is only part of the decision. Also compare tactile effect, pattern scale, wall compatibility, installation and removal method, cleanability, and any exposure to dampness. Wallcovering references identify dampness and wall condition as factors to consider, but the product’s own instructions should determine whether it is suitable for a particular location.
Will textured wallpaper work on your wall?
It depends on the wall’s condition and the wallpaper’s construction. Many wallcoverings look best on flat walls, and surface irregularities can show through or interfere with adhesion. Ethan Allen advises that an installer may use a skim coat to create a flat base; it also notes that dark paint, plaster texture, or paneling texture can show through light-colored wallpaper. Its wallpaper guide recommends checking care instructions as well.
Don’t assume that a paper’s texture will conceal an imperfect wall. Texture and surface preparation are different things: a raised or woven finish changes what you see and feel, but it doesn’t establish that the product can bridge unevenness or adhere properly. Spoonflower says even slight wall texture may inhibit adherence for peel-and-stick, pre-pasted, grasscloth, and metallic products in its range, and it does not recommend its listed wallpaper types for heavily textured walls. That guidance is specific to its products, so check the compatibility instructions for the exact wallpaper you are considering. Spoonflower’s format guide explains its distinctions among wallpaper types and surfaces.
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Before ordering, inspect the wall for texture, paneling, existing finish, and dark paint that might affect the result. If the surface needs preparation, ask an installer whether it needs to be leveled or skim-coated for the selected product. A sample can reveal the finish and pattern, but it cannot by itself confirm that a full wall is in suitable condition.
Which wallpaper format and care requirements should you check?
Wallpaper format affects how a covering is installed and where its maker says it can be used. Spoonflower’s guide distinguishes peel-and-stick, pre-pasted, traditional, performance, vinyl, metallic, and grasscloth formats. Its peel-and-stick option is described as suited to temporary applications and smooth surfaces. These descriptions are product-range-specific, not universal promises about every wallpaper sold under a format name.
Before committing, check the manufacturer’s current instructions for the exact product. Confirm the recommended wall surface, application method, and removal guidance, as well as cleanability and room suitability. If you’re considering a fabric or natural-fiber surface, check whether its care instructions match the room’s likely use. A material label alone does not tell you whether a particular finish is washable, removable, or suitable for a damp location.
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Ask about installation requirements early, especially for paper-backed textiles, grasscloth, metallic finishes, or products with a visible repeat. The design feature’s explanation of paper backing describes a way to reduce the risk of adhesive bleeding into the textile, not a guarantee that adhesive, seams, or application will be problem-free. Use the manufacturer’s guidance and, where needed, an installer familiar with the chosen material.
How can a sample help you choose?
Order a sample or swatch before buying a full quantity. This Old House recommends requesting samples so you can feel a wallpaper’s texture; seeing a small piece also helps you judge its color and pattern at close range. For a material whose appeal depends on a woven, fuzzy, or raised surface, a product photo alone may not communicate the tactile effect.
Look at the sample in the room and against nearby finishes, and check it from both close up and across the space. A fine cord, basket-weave impression, or burlap-like surface may register differently at different distances. Compare the sample with the room’s wood, paint, textiles, and planned artwork. Then use the product documentation—not the sample—to confirm wall compatibility, installation, removal, and care requirements.
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What should you decide before buying?
Use this checklist to narrow the options before you order:
- Effect: Do you want a texture you can feel, a printed illusion, a natural fiber, or a mix?
- Pattern: Does its scale and visual weight fit the wall and the room’s existing finishes?
- Location: Is the wall in a low-traffic area, or will it need to withstand frequent contact or cleaning?
- Surface: Does the manufacturer list your wall condition as compatible? Could dark paint, plaster, paneling, or unevenness affect the result?
- Project method: What installation and removal methods does the exact product require?
- Care: Are the stated cleaning and room-use requirements practical for the space?
- Sample: Have you seen and felt the surface alongside the room’s other materials?
Designer Alex Alonso summed up the appeal of going beyond paint: “Sometimes paint will do the trick, but when you want to be a little extra, texture on the walls really makes a statement.” The best choice is not necessarily the most dramatic one; it is the texture that suits the room, the wall, and the level of care you can give it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can textured wallpaper cover an uneven wall?
Not reliably. Wallpaper may follow or reveal irregularities rather than hide them, and some products need a smooth surface to adhere; ask whether the wall needs a skim coat and follow the chosen manufacturer’s compatibility guidance.
Can I use textured wallpaper in a bathroom?
Only if the specific product is rated or recommended for the room’s conditions. Check the manufacturer’s guidance for dampness, ventilation, and cleaning instead of assuming that a textured or vinyl-looking surface is suitable.
Will dark paint show through light wallpaper?
It can: Ethan Allen notes that dark paint may show through light-colored wallpaper. Surface preparation or a suitable base may be needed, so confirm the approach with the wallpaper instructions or installer before hanging.
Does paper backing make fabric wallpaper easier to install?
Paper backing turns a textile into a wallcovering and can reduce the risk of adhesive bleeding into the fabric, but it does not guarantee an easy installation or prevent every problem. Check the particular product’s instructions and use an installer familiar with its construction if needed.
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